Recent devastating floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts, including Buner, Mansehra, Swat, Shangla, Battagram, and Bajaur, have left widespread destruction.
A major cause of this destruction is a dangerous weather phenomenon known as a “cloudburst.”
A cloudburst is an unusual and extreme weather event in which rainfall that normally occurs over hours or days falls in just a few minutes at a single location.
The rainfall is many times heavier than usual, sometimes reaching hundreds of millimetres within just 10 to 20 minutes.
• Swollen streams and rivers
• Fast-flowing water descending from mountains
• Landslides and soil erosion
• Entire villages being wiped out
• Climate change
• Rising temperatures
• Disruption of ecological balance
These events are more common in mountainous regions. When warm, humid winds collide with mountains and rise to meet cooler air, clouds form. If the moisture pressure in these clouds exceeds a critical limit, they suddenly burst, releasing intense rainfall on the ground.
Even with modern technology, predicting cloudbursts is extremely challenging. They occur over limited areas and within a very short time frame, making it difficult for satellites or weather radars to detect them in advance.
For centuries, water has followed natural mountain channels. When humans build settlements, hotels, or other structures along these pathways, the intensity and destruction of natural disasters increase significantly. Water carries away obstacles in its path—whether buildings or bridges—as easily as sticks.
Experts urge that we respect nature, protect the environment, and ensure that residences and constructions are located in safe areas to minimise the impact of such disasters.
